JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing has officially signed Chad Reed for the 2019 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, a welcomed last-minute deal that will see the Australian legend compete for at least one more season.

Reed initially started testing with the squad in August before competing in a number of events aboard the factory RM-Z450, including the Pro Motocross finale, Monster Energy Cup and the Monster Energy S-X Open Supercross FIM Oceania Champion that he won in New Zealand.

The two-time AMA Supecross and world champion remained committed to the outfit despite not having a deal place for extended period of time, the late announcement coming after an extensive search for funding with the team losing title sponsor Autotrader for 2019.

“Chad Reed is a consummate professional, and I see that he has that hunger to win,” said team manager Jeremy Albrecht. “I’m also eager to see Justin Hill race in the 450 class. The kid is an incredible talent.

“He has really ramped up his training program this off-season. I am looking forward to Weston Peick lining up to the gate when he’s healthy. Peick is a tough person and fierce competitor.”

Reed will join Justin Hill in the premier class as Weston Peick is set return once recovered from his injuries, while the team will continue to field a four-rider 250 squad consisting of Alex Martin, Jimmy Decotis, Kyle Peters and Enzo Lopes.

Recently-crowned 125cc junior motocross world champion and reigning Pirelli MX Nationals MXD title-holder Bailey Malkiewicz has failed to secure a deal at this stage of the 2019 silly season, despite establishing himself as one the most well-credentialed rising stars in the sport.

Following a stellar campaign at WBR Yamaha in the official MXD team, 17-year-old Malkiewicz has indicated that a miscommunication between he and Yamaha Motor Australia management led to him being out of a ride for next season.

“At the moment I don’t have anything, but the plan is to stay in Australia for one more year and race MX2,” Malkiewicz revealed to MotoOnline.com.au. “After a bit of miscommunication between riders and teams, they [Yamaha] filled up their spots and didn’t have anything for me – they lost me and put on another rider. It’s alright, I’ll just have to find somewhere else.

“I was thinking of going to Europe to race next year and I think Yamaha thought I was already doing that, so that’s one of the reasons why they signed a rider before anything happened. I think I’ll just stay here for another year and head over to Europe in 2020.

“We’ll see what happens – I don’t have anything on paper at the moment, so I can’t really do anything about. After getting two titles this year, I feel confident I’ll get some good support behind me for the year to come and have the best chance of getting a title in MX2.”

Malkiewicz’ departure from Yamaha means the manufacturer will lose all three of its MX Nationals championship-winning riders from 2018, with three-time MX1 champion Dean Ferris heading to the US and MX2 victor Wilson Todd tipped to be joining the factory-backed DPH Motorsport Husqvarna.

The number 47’s former MXD-based team WBR Yamaha announced its line-up for 2019 earlier this week, confirming Queenslander Jack Kukas and New Zealand’s Maximus Purvis will make up its under 19s efforts in the new year. Serco Yamaha and Yamalube Yamaha Racing have also formally confirmed their two-rider squads for next season.

Motorcycling Australia (MA) has confirmed its Junior Coaching Days will make a welcomed return as part of the 2019 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC).

All AORC Junior Coaching Days are for juniors aged 12-16 years, with all proceeds going toward funding the 2019 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) team who will head off to Portugal in November.

Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland will play host to a full day of coaching by some of AORC’s most elite riders, including members from the victorious 2018 ISDE World Trophy team and Women’s World Trophy team, where all entered junior riders will gain invaluable knowledge and guidance from the likes of Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team), Daniel Milner (KTM Enduro Racing Team), and Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha).

Each elite rider will teach the AORC juniors the correct riding technique, provide information on the art of the racing line, race preparation, plus other valuable aspects such as fitness and nutrition, bike set-up. Priced from $200, more information can found at www.aorc.org.au.

2019 AORC Coaching Days calendar:
Saturday, 19 January – Yarra Valley, Victoria (Daniel Sanders, Andy Wilksch)
Sunday, 20 January – Lang Lang, Victoria (Daniel Milner, Lyndon Snodgrass)
Saturday, 9 February – Stroud, New South Wales (Joshua Green, Jessica Gardiner)
Saturday, 23 February – Gympie, Queensland (Jemma Wilson, Fraser Higlett)

Following news this week that Suzuki’s European distributors will not continue to sell the Hayabusa model, Suzuki Motorcycles Australia has now clarified the iconic sportsbike will remain in dealerships throughout the country, with 2019 colourways due to be introduced in the new year.

The decision to not sell the current generation Haybusa in Europe comes due to the motorcycle not currently meeting emission controls, however Suzuki Motor Corporation will maintain manufacturing of the bike.

The 2018 iteration of the Suzuki Hayabusa is currently available in Australian dealerships in two colours at a special run out price of $19,450 ride away with 12 months registration and is backed by Suzuki’s 24-month unlimited kilometre warranty.

For further information, interested customers should visit their nearest authorised Suzuki motorcycle dealer, or visit www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au.

Australian Rodney Faggotter is targeting a top 10 finish in the 2019 Dakar Rally, which set to take place from 6-17 January, boasting 5541 kilometres of riding.

The Yamalube Yamaha Rider wound up an impressive 16th at this year’s instalment, and with a week of testing now completed in Morocco, Faggotter believes his morale has been boosted heading into the prestigious off-road event.

“I’m looking forward to the 2019 Dakar,” said Faggotter. “I’ve been racing some Bajas and training hard back home in Australia these last few months. I feel strong physically and also mentally. In the beginning of December we’ve spent a full week testing and training with the team in Morocco and that was a good morale booster for me.

“We have a great spirit within the team and I want to be there for my teammates if they need me. I want to have a good clean run and do my own race. This Dakar might seem shorter, but we all know it’s still going to be a long and demanding race. If it all goes well, I’m confident I can improve my overall result from last year and fight for a spot inside the top 10.”

The Queenslander’s role within the factory Yamaha squad extends beyond being a rider, with his mechanical experience coming into play should a teammate require assistance throughout the almost two-week long affair.

Following yesterday’s 2019 team announcement from Kawasaki BCperformance, Kyle Buckley has confirmed he’s still shopping for a deal in next year’s Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).

Buckley’s departure from BCperformance concludes a five-year partnership with the outfit, which saw him emerge through the Supersport 300, Supersport and Superbike categories with the New South Wales-based operation.

The number 83, who was ranked 12th in the 2018 ASBK championship standings, remains hopeful of landing an opportunity in the main game despite acknowledging there are a limited number of seats available.

“At the moment I don’t have anything solid, I’m just looking around – there’s a little bit happening, but I’m still just looking at this stage,” Buckley explained to CycleOnline.com.au. “It’s disappointing to leave the team, but it’s the way it is and I wish them the best for 2019.

“I’ve stepped back into 300s from 600s in the past, but it’s not something I want to do again. If nothing comes up, I suppose I’ll hang up the boots. I still think I’m fast enough to be in the game, but unfortunately it didn’t work out with BCperformance – there’s not much out there and it’s pretty cut-throat. I’m just sitting back and hoping an opportunity opens up.”

The 2019 ASBK field has taken shape over the last month, with Penrite Honda Racing, Yamaha Racing Team, Team Suzuki Ecstar and most recently Kawasaki BCperformance confirming their squads for the new year.

Confirmed as the opening round of the 2019 MXGP World Championship last week, Patagonia Argentina has now been rescheduled to take place one week earlier than initially planned on 2-3 March.

The previous schedule was selected before a local government election was announced causing the change, the change in schedule coming due to a local law which prohibits public events from coinciding with such elections.

The new anticipated date will however better suit the interest of both riders and fans as the best athletes in the world return to MXGP racing following winter preparation.

The 2019 MXGP World Championship will span over 20 rounds, starting in March before winding up in September at Imola in Italy.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price has successfully undergone surgery to repair a right fractured scaphoid sustained in a training incident this week.

The 2016 Dakar Rally winner and 2018 FIM Cross-Country Rallies world champion is understood to have completed the operation in Barcelona, Spain, and is currently travelling back to Australia for an immediate start to his recovery.

According to a statement released by the Austrian manufacturer, the 31-year-old expects to be adequately healthy for the 2019 Dakar Rally, scheduled to commence on 6 January 2019, before finishing up on 17 January 2019 following 5,541 kilometres of riding.

It’s an untimely blow for the popular Australian, who went into this year’s Dakar underprepared following a injury-riddled campaign in 2017, however still pulled through with a podium in the gruelling event.